The Grenada Football Association (GFA) has been brought before the country’s High Court following allegations that the current leadership is manipulating the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for Saturday, by blocking a rival candidate from challenging incumbent Marlon Glean (pictured), who was elected in 2022.
The complaint outlines alleged violations of the GFA’s Electoral Code, particularly concerning abruptly shortened deadlines for presidential challengers to fulfill compliance requirements and eligibility checks, which have resulted in the disqualification of candidates.
The last-minute adjustment of election timelines, seen as a tactic to eliminate competitors, is a familiar practice in the Caribbean FA region that has been curtailed under the new Concacaf leadership. In this case, it has left Glean’s slate as the only qualified candidates, with no challenger for the presidency.
The GFA case may not require intervention from Concacaf or FIFA, as the local government is set to rule later today (Friday, May 8). The GFA electoral congress is scheduled for Saturday (May 9).
The complaint was filed by Team Duncan, led by Roger Duncan and Trevor McIntosh (former GFA Technical Director), who question the fairness and integrity of a process they say has been marred by multiple procedural irregularities.
They argue that convening an Extraordinary General Congress with only 37 days’ notice—instead of the statutory minimum of 45—significantly shortened the time to meet electoral requirements, including submitting slates and securing endorsements from five eligible clubs.
Team Duncan also claims that a register of eligible voting members was not circulated to the membership, making it hard to identify valid endorsing clubs; that endorsement forms required signatures from a limited pool of club presidents, as several clubs had expired leadership terms; and that no guidance or summary of applicable statutes and requirements was provided alongside the election notice.
Team Duncan’s slate was ruled invalid by the Electoral Committee for failing to meet endorsement requirements. The claimants assert this was due to procedural breaches and a lack of transparency.
The claimants have requested that the elections be postponed and that the deadline be extended to allow candidates to submit their applications and gather endorsements. They also demand disclosure of the list of voting members and strict adherence to the GFA’s statutes.
Concacaf declined to comment officially, though an insider stated that all national association members are expected to follow governance rules. In this instance, they may not need to investigate or act, as the Grenada High Court could make the decision for them.
